Vehicle-top



OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

VEHICLE TOP.

A T. B. MOCURDY.

A(No Moie.)

OUXOOXOOXODXOOX UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS B. MCCURDY, OF LANCASTER, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,224, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed April 25, 1890. Serial No. 349,522. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. MCCUEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Top, ot' which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement upon a construction of vehicle-tops forming the subject-matter of Patent No. 381,630, which was granted to me April 24, 1888.

The object of the present invention is to simplify, improve, and cheapen the construction of vehicle-tops, such as are shown in the above-mentioned patent, and enable the sliding curtain to be more readily and securely fastened to the standards and bows of the carriage-top.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a vehicle-top constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the sliding frame and the curtain. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the sliding frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates vertical standards, which are formed by the lower portion vof the supporting-bows 2 of a vehicle-top 3, and which are provided with grooves 4, constructed similar to those shown and described in the abovementioned patent, and extending longitudinally along the inner opposed faces of the supporting-bows 2 and adapted to receive and retain vertical strips 5 of asliding frame 6, to which a curtain 7 is secured. The sliding frame consists of the vertical strips 5, which are constructed of suitable metal, preferably spring metal, that is adapted to bend and conform to the sides of the grooves 4, and the cross-pieces 8,that are arranged parallel with one another and have their ends secured to the vertical strips 5. The vertical strips 5 are provided with series of perforations 9, which enable the curtain 7 to be readily stitched to the sliding frame g but the curtain may, if desired, be secured by staples 10, the legs ot' which are passed through the perforations 9 and are spread and bent against the side of a vertical strip.

It will readily be seen that the construction of the sliding frame is exceedingly simple, strong and durable, and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and is adapted to have the curtain readily secured to it; and it dispenses with the tongue shown in my former patent, as the vertical strips slide in the grooves and are fiexible and readily conform to the curvature of the supporting-bows. The verticalstrips are provided with plates 11, that extend inward from the strips and may be formed integral therewith or be secured thereto, and they provide means by which the cross-strips can be readily secured to the vertical strips.

The plates 11 may be constructed separate from and be secured to the flexible strips 5; but they are preferably formed integral therewith.

Besides securing the curtain to the sliding frame by the means above described paste may conveniently be employed, and the bottom of the curtain is provided witha ring 12.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will readily be understood.

What I claim is- The combination of the supporting-bows provided with longitudinal grooves 4, and the curtain-carrying frame comprising flat ilexible stripsarranged in the said grooves and provided at intervals with inwardly-extending plates having perforations, and the parallel cross-pieces secured to the plates and connecting the strips, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS B. MCCURDY.

Witnesses:

J. B. FITZPATRICK, E. T. KING. 

